News & EventsLatest NewsCalendar
Robbie's view

Robbie's view

Brendan Parkinson2 May 2016 - 19:30
Share via
FacebookTwitter
https://www.bonnyriggrosefc.co

Thoughts from the manager on the past seven days.

What a week it's been!

Going in to the game last Wednesday there was a bit of pressure on the players to get a result and for me it was about the players dealing with that pressure and showing the ability, character and team spirit they have shown all season. There was a couple of decisions to be made with the team and as is always the case with this group of players they just got on with it and there was a real feeling of togetherness within the squad.

I thought first half we dominated the game against a strong Linlithgow team and there was no sign of nerves or pressure at all and though there wasn't any real clear cut chances I felt we deserved to be in front and if it hadn't been for the bar twice we may well have been. As it was we lost a soft goal on our part just before half time with Linlithgow's only chance of the half and we found ourselves one down again! When you play against top teams concentration levels have got to be high and we switched just for a few seconds and we were punished.

The second half and Linlithgow started quickly and were two up early in the half and but for a great save by Michael (which looked offside) it might have been three. When Ruaridh got sent off (the highlights clearly show he gets the ball) I genuinely felt that was it and Linlithgow would play to their strengths and keep the ball. For us there was nothing to lose and though I took Fraser of, who was having a good game, brought Moyesey on we still left two upfront in the hope we could get back in the game.

The last 25 minutes was just an incredible effort from a fantastic group of players, not just the ones on the pitch but the ones on the sidelines willing their team mates on. When we got one back I felt we would still get one more chance and the energy levels late in the game was frightening as the players chased down every ball and every lost cause. The feeling I got along with many other people when Kerr's header went in was the best feeling I've ever had at a football match. Adam who was off the pitch at the time commented that it was the best feeling he'd had in junior football, coming from a player who has won pretty much everything in junior football. The reaction of the whole squad, coaching staff, committee and big travelling support will be something I won't forget but as I said to the players the result counts for nothing unless we now go on and win the league and there is still plenty of work to do to ensure we get there.

After a game like that it was always going to be difficult for the boys to pick themselves up and go again as they had put so much into the Wednesday and on Saturday we were flat and didn't play like we can. I made a few changes to freshen things up but we just didn't get going on a difficult pitch, in windy conditions and against a hard working Dundonald side. When we got pegged back, after Scottie had scored a great individual goal, the players had to dig deep again and once again we managed to get the result we required with a header from Kieran. Lets not forget the opposition we were playing against, Dundonald are top of the Premier League on merit and look like they will be a Super League team next season so on paper it's actually an excellent result but I think there was a feeling of disappointment with the way we played. We are in the next round though and that's all that matters.

It's another massive week for us starting with a huge game on Wednesday against in-form Newtongrange followed by a tough game against Hill of Beath on Saturday. The players are desperate to make up for the result on our last visit to Newtongrange and hopefully we can get the win we desire.

All the best!

Robbie

Further reading